In a pool of healthy vegetables, beetroot has rightly emerged as a superfood. It is loaded with every essential nutrient that helps promote overall health. From aiding weight loss to regulating blood pressure, beetroot covers it all. If you ask us, we just love adding this red coloured, almost sweet vegetable to our diet. In fact, we look for options to sneak beetroot into our everyday meal. Be it in form of juice, smoothie or sabzi - we make the most of this nutritious and versatile vegetable. However, a recent study has found that beetroot, in form of juice, benefits our health the most, especially among older people. The findings of the study were published in the journal Redox Biology.
According to the study, beetroot juice promotes a mix of mouth bacteria, which helps regulate blood vessels and neurotransmission (chemical messages in the brain). A report on the official website of the University of Exeter states that these healthy oral bacteria play a role in turning nitrate to nitric oxide - the deficit of which may lead to poorer vascular and cognitive health.
The researchers at the University of Exeter conducted a study on 26 healthy older people aged between 70 and 80. They participated in two ten-day supplementation periods - one with nitrate-rich beetroot juice and another with nitrate-free placebo juice. They drank these juices twice a day.
Also Read: 6 Interesting Ways To Add Beetroots To Your Diet For Overall Health
It was found that drinking nitrate-rich food (in this case beetroot juice) for 10 days can alter the oral microbiome (mix of bacteria) for the better. The research further concluded, "Higher levels of bacteria are associated with good vascular and cognitive health, and lower levels of bacteria are linked to disease and inflammation."
"We are really excited about these findings, which have important implications for healthy ageing," said lead author Professor Anni Vanhatalo, of the University of Exeter.
Considering the above factors, we say, drink beetroot juice daily for an overall healthy living. But, the same beetroot juice every day can be boring at times. Hence, we found 4 interesting ways to make beetroot juice yummier for you. Click here to know more.
(Note: The food suggestion in this article is not a part of the study)
About Somdatta SahaExplorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.